Unbeknown to the vast majority, Flying Scotsman was in danger of being declared a failure for the second time, 24 hours after having its re-metalled centre driving wheels returned from Riley Engineering and refitted at Wansford on the Nene Valley Railway.
Having arrived at Norwich on the evening of November 10 the A3’s footplate crew reported that an injector feed pipe had fractured, rendering the 4-6-2 a non-starter for the following day’s roster.
Quick action was needed. Scotsman’s support crew stepped in by releasing the pipe ready for repairing while Steam Dreams’ operations director Steve Newall got things underway by phoning traction engine enthusiast – and Mayflower’s support crew leader Trevor Wrench – for help in the specialist skill of copper welding. Although he wasn’t equipped to carry out the task, he knew a man who could.
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As Steve recalled the incident, a car was despatched with the pipe into rural Suffolk at around 8pm, taking an hour to reach its destination.
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